Friday, May 29, 2009

Swiffer - Yuck!

I recently bought a Swiffer Sweeper Starter Kit since there was a money back rebate floating around. I had the actual Guarantee form in my hands when I purchased the product, having checked to make sure it was an item that matched the guarantee. I was completely disappointed in the product. In my opinion all it does is push around stuff on the floor instead of "collecting" it on the little swiffer pads.

Today in the mail, I received my form/UPC/receipt/envelope in the mail with a letter that reads:

"Thank you for participating in the US Swiffer Money Back Guarantee Offer. We are unable to process your request because:

Your request does not include the correct UPC(s) required for this promotion. Only the
UPC symbols from the products listed in the offer requirements are acceptable.

To allow us to process your request, please resubmit your entire corrected order along with this letter by 6/22/2009 to the following address: (address omitted by me).

We hope you make the necessary correctiuons and return your order. Thank you for your interest in the US Swiffer Money Back Guarantee Offer.

Sincerely,
Fulfillment Center"

How on Earth am I supposed to send a UPC when it was already cut off the box. Who keeps an entire box, after they have already cut off the code and photocopied it for a rebate program?

So, now in addition to an inferior product, I don't even get my money back. I will never purchase another Swiffer product again. This just once again demonstrates my awful luck.

Mach razors

Last night after dropping Hobo off at the vet, we stopped at a Super Target. I didn't bring my coupon book because I didn't expect to stop anywhere - stupid mistake!! We found 5 pack cartridges of Mach razors on clearance from $13.48 to $6.48. Even without the Q, we still bought 2 packages because these are the razors that James likes to use.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Infrequent posting

I'm working 9 days straight so no time for shopping or posting. I might do a post if I find a good deal and can get to the store or if anything exciting happens.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Finally free toilet paper!

I finally got free toilet paper after reading about the Kroger events from other people for so long!

Walgreen's:
2 Carefree pantiliners: $1.39 each - WAGs Q $0.80 - 2 $1 MQ = Free with $0.02 overage
2 Pringles: $2 each, on sale for 2 for $3.00- $1/2 MQ = $2
1 Right Guard Extreme deodorant: $3.99 on sale for $2.99 - FREE Q = FREE
1 Breathsavers mints (fillers): $0.69

Total before sales and Q: $11.46
Total sales: $2
Total Q: $6.79
Total OOP w/ tax: ZERO ( $2.73 on GC)

Walmart:
2 Cottonelle 4 pack Toilet Paper: $1 each - 2 $1 MQ = ZERO
1 Breyer's ice cream: $3.29, on sale for $2.25 - $1 MQ = $1.25

Total before sales and Q: $5.29
Total sales: $1.04
Total Q: $3
Total OOP w/ tax: $1.25

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Waffles

Thanks to Erin's blog we decided to check Target today for waffles on sale. I almost never buy processed waffles because we have homemade waffles so frequently and thus have leftovers to freeze. But this was an excellent deal and they should be a quick breakfast for James before work. We'll see if it is worth it or not.

6 Kashi waffles: $1.99 (these were $3.22 at my local HEB, yikes!) on sale for $1.79 - 1 FREE MQ & 5 $1.50 MQ = $1.45 ($0.25 a box)

Total before sales and Q: $11.94
Total sales: $1.20
Total Q: $9.29
Total OOP: $1.45

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Quick trip

We needed some BQ sauce and I wanted to check on Coolwhip.

2 Planter's big nut bars (odd name) - $2.75 on sale for $2 each - 2 $1 MQ = $2
2 Kraft BQ sauce: $1.32 on sale for $0.98 - 2 $1 MQ = FREE with $0.04 overage
4 Coolqhip: $1.34 on sale for $1 each - 2 $2/2 MQ = $2

Total before sales and Q: $13.50
Total sales: $3.54
Total Q: $6
Total OOP: $3.96

Dewberry harvesting

The dewberries are ripening up and so I decided I would go and pick some for James. I told him about it and we have become the dewberry scouting duo. . .James has become maniacal about it. We are trying to find enough to make a cobbler.







This was just the pick from that one spot. We since have picked enough to fill one and a half sandwich Ziploc bags. We have two more areas that we are waiting for the berries to ripen, but I'm not telling where the patches are!!!



Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Convenience food spree!

We stopped at HEB today to get Darla's meds. . .to the tune of $51 and while waiting I looked at a sales ad. I am currently on a sports drink thing since I am spending huge amounts of time outside and we go through tortilla chips like any good Texan. BTW, we spend more to keep Darla alive and well than we spend on medicine for the both of us!

2 Sobe Lifewaters: $1.19 each - $1MQ = $1.38
4 Powerade sport drinks: on sale for $0.82 at B3G1 = $2.46
1 pkg of ground sirloin (in order to use up the pinto beans I cooked we are going to make frito pie and needed some meat) = $3.73
2 HEB tortilla chips: $2 each and got the corn chips free = $4

Total before sales and Q: $15.93
Total sales: $0.54
Total Q: $3.82
Total OOP w/ tax: $11.77

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Quick Walgreen's trip

I had a $2 RR expiring today so James was nice enough to hit Walgreen's with me last night. I found a bunch of the mineral pure Jane products on clearance, but I only had one Q.

1 Jane Mineral Pure lip balm: originally $3.99, on clearance for $2.39 - $2 MQ = $0.39
1 Gatorade (for work today): $1.99

Total before Q and sales: $9.98
Total sales: $1.60
Total Q: $4 (used a $2 RR)
Total OOP w/ tax: ZERO ($0.41 on GC)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Kashi waffles

Just a quick post. Vocalpoint sent me a Q for a free box of Kashi Go Lean waffles and 5 $1.50 off Q! If you want one of the $1.50 Q let me know. If I have time I'll try to go get some waffles this weekend and let everyone know how they taste!


Thursday, May 7, 2009

Sorry

I've been busy and having some personal issues so I haven't had any time to write. I'm not sure when I'll get back up to blogging. Hopefully soon.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Depressing grocery trip

I went to HEB today was was thoroughly depressed. I felt like I hardly bought anything for $40, which only leaves me with $32 for the rest of the month. The cost of everything in the store has gone up from the last time I went shopping. Additionally, I had to start buying some different things because my schedule has changed, making it more difficult to eat on a schedule...thus the lunch meat. The sad part to me is that I only bought three items that are really "processed" on my trip: the chocolate milk (I don't drink milk by itself unless it is chocolate), the tortilla chips (we live in TX!!) and the hot dogs.

I don't want to take the time to list everything, so here's the break down.

Total before sales and Q: $45.02
Total sales: $0.56
Total Q: $4.25
Total OOP w/ tax: $40.31 ($40 from grocery budget and $0.31 from change)

OUCH!!!

Friday, May 1, 2009

April Recap

Here's the Recap for April!

I stuck to my $25 grocery budget this month. Even though I added money in because of the rebates I received, I still managed to spend only $24.60 for groceries! I'm not sure what my budget will be for next month. I think I am going to try $50.

Money spent (I am missing some towards the end, but I still have $0.40 out of the original $25 cash I started with.)

Total before sales and Q: $228.91
Total sales: $95.53
Total Q: $78.42
Total OOP w/ tax: $20.72 (91% savings)

Rebates
Received 4 - Ensure, Yo-Plus yogurt, Oragel, and Hillshire Farms Deliselect.

Sent out for 1 rebate - Reynold's Recycled Aluminum

Books
I read 13 books this month.

Magazines
I read 20 in April.

Freebies
I received 18 freebies including: free panty from VS, a journal, samples from Oravive tooth gel, Trident gum, Old Spice body wash, Cottonelle, Roots of Nature hair care, Kotex, Rachel Ray's Nutrish, Frosted Mini-wheat, Gillette Body Wash, and Dove deodorant, a Jiffy mix recipe book, a subscription to Self mag, and Q for free Deli Creations, Oral B toothbrushes and Homemade Simple Q book.

2011 Challenge = Support Local Eateries

Read about our 2011 Challenge here.